| Metastatic brain tumors may be quite aggressive and | | | | brain tumor. MRI Angiography (MRA) uses MRI scans |
| may return even after surgery, radiation therapy, and | | | | to outline blood vessels in the brain by following blood |
| chemotherapy. | | | | flow. Angiography is used to plan the surgical removal |
| Metastatic disease requires treatment of the original | | | | of a tumor suspected to have a large blood supply or |
| tumor site if applicable. Some primary brain tumors | | | | one located in a part of the brain with?dense blood |
| respond to certain forms of therapy better than | | | | vessels. |
| others. Metastatic brain tumors are classified | | | | Contrast agent uptake, sometimes in characteristic |
| depending on the exact site of the tumor within the | | | | patterns, can be demonstrated on either CT or |
| brain, type of tissue involved, original location of the | | | | MRI-scans in most malignant primary and metastatic |
| tumor, and other factors. | | | | brain tumors. This is due to the fact that these |
| Infrequently, a tumor can spread to the brain, yet | | | | tumors disrupt the normal functioning of the |
| the original site or location of the tumor is unknown. | | | | blood-brain barrier and lead to an increase in its |
| Metastatic brain tumors occur in about one-fourth of | | | | permeability. |
| all cancers that metastasize (spread through the | | | | Now neurological progression can be effectively |
| body). They are much more common than primary | | | | controlled in most patients harboring a few intracranial |
| brain tumors . | | | | metastases with aggressive focal treatment (surgery |
| Astrocytomas may also start here. Astrocytomas | | | | or radiosurgery) in combination with WBR. |
| are generally subdivided into high-grade or low-grade | | | | WBR can be given immediately following focal |
| tumors. High-grade astrocytomas are the most | | | | treatment or at the time of recurrence. Control can |
| malignant of all brain tumors. | | | | be extended by frequent MR surveillance of the brain |
| Ependymomas make up about 8-10% of pediatric | | | | and radiosurgical treatment of new metastases |
| brain tumors. The tumors are located in tiny | | | | months or years later. With control of intracranial |
| passageways (ventricles) in the brain, and block the | | | | disease, advances in cancer therapy will prolong |
| flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Ependymomas can | | | | survival, since most patients now succumb later to |
| be slow growing, compared to other brain tumors, | | | | systemic, rather than intracranial disease. |
| but may recur after treatment is completed. | | | | Aggressive, focal treatment is only beneficial in |
| Recurrence of ependymomas results in a more | | | | patients with controlled or no systemic disease and |
| invasive tumor with more resistance to treatment. | | | | independent health (Karnofsky Performance Score |
| Contrast dye is intravenously administered and the | | | | (KPS) 70). Age is also a determinant of outcome, |
| scanner starts taking a rapid succession of images | | | | with better outcomes in individuals less than 60 years |
| this traces the path of blood flow into the brain and | | | | old. |